Here at E3, we get asked a lot of questions in our line of work – in the end, consulting is almost entirely made up of finding solutions and giving advice. After several years of being in business, we have noticed a trend; there are questions that nearly every prospect or client that we have worked with has asked us, so we have decided to publish our answers here for anyone who is curious of the major factors that go into energy compliance.
In this article, we will be discussing the roots of three questions, then over the rest of the series we will discuss each in turn. We hope that by the end of each post you feel more comfortable with the reasons behind these regulations.
This is the first post in our ongoing series on frequently asked questions about energy compliance in development projects throughout California. In this series, we cover the three most frequently asked questions in development projects and our answers to each. If you have found this post of use, you may want to check out the rest of this series.
Follow the links:
Part 1 ‒ The Top 3 FAQs About Energy Compliance in California’s Development Projects
Part 2 ‒ California’s Real Estate Energy Compliance FAQs: Why Is It Necessary?
Part 3 ‒ California’s Real Estate Energy Compliance FAQs: The Steps to Compliance
Part 4 ‒ California’s Real Estate Energy Compliance FAQs: How Much Does Compliance Cost?
Part 5 ‒ The Risks of Not Passing California’s Real Estate Energy Codes
Question #1
The first question that we get from the bulk of our clients: why do we have to do this? The answer that most would give is because it’s the good and responsible thing to do, but this does not help a business as much as we would hope. The main reason, and in the shortest way we can express it, is that it’s mandatory. The law provides a very strict code regarding energy efficiency in real estate developments, and if this is not met, then there is no Certificate of Occupancy.
With this in mind, there are a few methods that a developer can use in order to reach an optimized goal while retaining sustainable development practices. We will cover these reasons in depth in our next post in the series.
Question #2
The second most frequently asked question by developers regarding energy compliance is ‘what are the steps that we have to take in order to reach compliance?’
In brief, the answer is to either be entirely conscious of the code specifications per site, to ensure that the implementation of the plans is feasible, to double-check that the construction materials in use are appropriate, to offer proper training to the installers prior to installing, and to review the installations in stages prior to inspections.
The actual steps involved vary depending on the system being implemented, but the basic answer is to have someone who is a professional in code and practices as a point of reference to oversee the process. This will ensure that the schedule remains as planned and avoids costly rebuilds and failed inspections.
Question #3
The third most frequently asked question has to do with cost. In post number four, we cover the cost of being energy compliant and how to maintain a budget to this level. The true reason that a bottom line is sunk by energy compliance is a result of problems that arise during the installation of energy systems, so check out this post in order to mitigate any risks along the process.
Alright! Now that we’ve covered the three most common questions, let’s dive into the first one’s answer in greater detail in our next post.